TWELFTH REINFORCEMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2750, 19 April 1916, Page 6

TWELFTH REINFORCEMENTS

INSPECTED BY THE GOVERNOR,

The' weather Svas calm and sunny at Trentham racecourse 'yesterday morning, when His Excellency the Governor inspected; the Infantry and Engineers' drafts of the Twelfth Reinforcements. Half an hour before the time fixed for the inspeotion, tJie troops marched from the camp to the racecourse, headed by the Trentham Camp Band, under Bandmaster Fox. Colonel Cummings, commander or' A Company, was in charge. The different, companies manoeuvred on the sward, the green shade in the khaki blending with the surrounding tints, which the rain overnight had given freshness "to. The bayonets glittered as the troops moved, and tho martial music stirred the few spectators who were present. Punctually at .11 o'clock the Governor; with the Minister of Defence, Colonel J. Allen, arrived. They were met by Colonel ,C.v M. Gibbon, Chief-of-Staff. the Camp Commandant, Liout.-Colonel H. R. Pottor, who were accompanied by Liout.-Colonel C. R. Macdonald, Chief Infantry Instructor, the Adjutant, Captain E. C. Dovey, and the Assistant Adjutant, Captain AV. Bell. • The troops, numbering over 1500 men, stood with sloped arms as His Excellency approached the saluting' base. Then the order was given. ' "Royal salute! Present arms!" And the band played a few bars of the National Anthem.

"Slope arms! Order arms!" Those orders were given in oloso sequence. Tho troops then stood at ease, except for the particular company which was being inspected. That company stood at attention. A brief but thorough inspection of every file having been made, His Excellency and party returned to the saluting base, and the band led the march past; tiftorwards wheeling aside in order to plav-the last of-the parade o'lf the ground. The Engineers marched first, followed by the Signallers. Then came the Infantry in eight companies. They looked well.' and marched with precision and vigour. Comment was made by those present on the smart and capnblo appearance of the men,'which was declared to be quite equal to that of drafts which.have gone. The Artillery and Mounted Eiflcs were not present, as they are still in training at Featherston. .

After the inspection, the officers of the Reinforcements were addressed by the Governor. ,